Japanese matador aspirant picks fruits for a living

TORREMOLINOS, Spain: A Japanese man moved closer to achieving his goal of becoming his country's first professional matador by taking part in his first bullfight involving mounted lancers.

Taira Nono slayed two young bulls at the bullring in the southern Spanish resort town of Torremolinos on Sunday after a picador, a bullfighter on horseback, goaded the animals with steel-pointed lances, which weaken their shoulder muscles.

"I am very happy and have a real desire to succeed. I love the bullfighting world and am in Spain to become the first matador in Japanese history," the soft-spoken 35-year-old told reporters before entering the ring.